Vol. 4, No. 3, March 2007
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Rí-Rá Pub
Rí-Rá Pub The Quarter at Tropicana, Atlantic City • 609-348-8600
If bagpipes, kilts and glass after glass of Guinness sounds like an ideal night on the town, then Rí-Rá Premier Irish Pub is the perfect spot to pull up a barstool.
Founded in 1997 by Irish immigrants David Kelly and Ciaran Sheehan, Rí-Rá now has eight locations including its Atlantic City location, which opened in November 2004.
Located in the Quarter at Tropicana, Rí-Rá transports patrons to Ireland with dark wood and authentic décor. Rí-Rá didn’t just mimic pubs from the old country; the owners actually transported nearly everything, from the physical bar to the floorboards, into the new establishment.
“Every piece, except for the table and chairs, is from Ireland,” said Paul Stewart, Atlantic City co-owner and operator. “It may not necessarily be from a bar. We have salvaged pieces from houses, restaurants, anywhere. The floor and ceiling, for example, are from a school. The row of windows along the front are from a church. Each piece has its own story.”
The front bar was disassembled from a Dublin pub called the Henry Gratton and shipped to Atlantic City and reassembled. Ask any Rí-Rá employee the origin of almost every piece the pub contains to find its trace to Ireland.
If you still aren’t feeling the Irish, one-third of the staff is straight from the old country, complete with “luck of the Irish” attitude and accent.
No pub would be complete without beer, lots and lots of beer. Rí-Rá offers a selection of more than 50 choices as well as four Irish beers. With the “cheapest beer in the Quarter,” Rí-Rá keeps Irish brews, Smithwicks and Hoegarden, on tap for a mere $5.25 per pint. Also on tap, Guinness is served in a 20-ounce glass, “like they do back home” for $5.75.
For the one day of the year that everyone is Irish—St. Patrick's Day—Rí-Rá’s festivities include Ireland’s legendary “craic” (good fun), giveaways, live music and more. Put on your green and raise your glass to St. Patrick on March 17 as the McCullum Brothers return to Atlantic City from Ireland to take the stage from noon to 7 p.m.
“We are going to create a little bit like a Mardi Gras party but for the Irish,” said head bartender Paul “Junior” Walsh. “It’s a crazy day, it’s busy, but it’s a great time.”
In addition to the live music, traditional Irish dancers worthy of Riverdance will pair with bagpipers to complete the festivities. For St. Patty’s Day and all year round, Rí-Rá is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow .
Rí-Rá Premier Irish Pub is open 7 days a week from 11 a.m. until 3 a.m., serving lunch, dinner and a late night menu including shepherd’s pie, lamb stew and other traditional Irish favorites. Drink prices range from $5.25 to $7 and patrons can enjoy live entertainment and music four days a week.
Ri-Ra Irish Coffee
Pour one heaping teaspoon of brown sugar into glass, then add one generous shot of Jameson whiskey. Fill glass (one inch from top) with Rí-Rá fresh French-pressed coffee (or dark coffee of your choice). Finish with fresh whipped cream topping.
